NORWALK – The Norwalk Planning Commission has approved a new housing development by Brandywine Homes, which plans to replace the former Excelsior Drive Baptist Church with 21 townhomes.

Brandywine Homes will construct six, two-story buildings on the rectangular lot just adjacent the Norwalk Church of the Nazarene. According to the staff report, future tenants will choose between four different floor plans, varying from a 2-bedroom, 2-bath option at 1,108 sq. ft. to a 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath option at 1,491 sq. ft.

Each unit will consist of an open floor plan “great room,” comprising a kitchen, dining room, and living room.

Brandywine Homes has proposed site amenities to include individual pre-wired security systems, a laundry in each unit, as well as a covered patio and BBQ in the common open space area. Additionally, each townhome will have a form of private space such as separate entry areas, side yards, rear yards, or a balcony.

The exterior of the townhomes will mix both French and Craftsman design styles, highlighted by varied paint colors, decorative eaves and shutters, stucco finish, recessed windows, window trims, brick trims, and vinyl fences.

The housing tract will have one main entry and exit off of Excelsior Drive with a 3-foot-high, 8-foot-long monument sign made of concrete and smooth colored stucco.

The new development will incorporate 64 parking spaces in total for all units, including 42 spaces in garages, 15 uncovered spaces, and 7 guest parking spots.

“Staff believes that the proposed 21-unit townhome project is a quality project with a strong design component,” said Norwalk Assistant Planner Monica Rodriguez. “All sides of the buildings offer varying and interesting architecture. The proposed development will have a positive effect on the appearance of the surrounding areas.”

The Planning Commission approved the development on Sept. 28 in a 3-0 vote with commissioners Phyllis Barth, Jennifer Perez, and Victor Juan Jr. voting in favor.

This latest project, located at 11042 Excelsior Dr., marks Brandywine Homes’ third housing development in Norwalk. Currently, the Irvine-based company owns a 16-unit townhome development on 11433 Excelsior Dr. and a 31-unit community at 11009 Pioneer Blvd.

The Norwalk Planning Commission also approved an updated drive-thru layout for the McDonald’s near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Studebaker Road.

Beleaguered by a cramped drive-thru lane, the McDonald’s site, located at 11053 Rosecrans Ave., requested to modify its existing drive-thru by providing two lanes, which separate the menu boards from the order points, according to city staff reports.

In order to accommodate the larger drive-thru, McDonald’s will eliminate six parking spaces, bringing the number of spaces at the site down from 42 to 38. Currently, the Norwalk Municipal Code requires a building this size to have 96 spaces, however, a parking analysis by the city found only 34 spaces were needed even during this location’s peak hours.

With the proposed modifications, approximately 28 vehicles will fit within the two-lane drive-thru, up from the 14 possible before, city staff said.

McDonald’s will also update the exterior of the building by painting it an earth-toned color, removing the existing red, tile roof, and replacing the reddish tile base.

The Planning Commission also approved new drive-thru signage and internally-illuminated wall signs, which McDonald’s will install.